NEWARK -- Essex County Sheriff's officers recovered drugs, a loaded gun and a stolen car with separate arrests Wednesday, including one incident where a driver ran a police car off the road and fought with detectives, officials said.

Detectives were conducting surveillance at South 6th Street and Springfield Avenue in Newark's Central Ward after numerous complaints of drug sales in the area, said Sheriff Armando Fontoura.

County investigators went to question Quran "Choppa" Richardson, who pulled up to the area, and was known from past drug cases, the sheriff said in a statement. When they turned on their lights and siren, Richardson sped head-on toward the detectives, forcing their car to swerve off the road, Fontoura said.

"Richardson, with no regard for human life, drove off in a reckless manner and at a very high rate of speed," Fontoura added.

Detectives decided not to chase Richardson's speeding car because the area was busy with pedestrians and traffic, according to the sheriff.

Narcotics investigators found Richardson getting out of his car behind his home at a Newark housing complex, Fontoura said. When he saw the officers, Richardson tossed a gun into his car and tried to throw a plastic bag on a roof, Fontoura said.

Detectives tackled Richardson, who fought with police as they tried to handcuff him, according to the sheriff. Authorities recovered the loaded 9mm Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun outfitted with a laser sight with an extended capacity magazine loaded with hollow point rounds, Fontoura said.

Fontoura said detectives also seized 100 heroin envelopes stamped with "Sucker Punch" in black ink, 123 vials of crack cocaine and 28 grams of codeine in the arrest.

Richardson, 33, gave police permission to search his car and apartment, where investigators discovered various drug packaging materials and $1,590 in drug money stashed in a safe, according to authorities. He faces two dozen charges, including aggravated assault, drug distribution and weapons offenses.

In the other arrest Wednesday, Fontoura said officers with the sheriff's patrol division tried to pull over a BMW for driving erratically in reverse on South 12th Street in East Orange.

The driver, Kadeem Fraser, 20 of East Orange, sped off and a computer check revealed the car was reported stolen in Pennsylvania, according to the sheriff.

Fraser lost control of the BMW as he turned off Steuben Street and crashed into an apartment building on 9th Avenue, officials said.

"The crash caused tremendous damage to the car and the residence," Fontoura said. "Fraser ran from the scene but was tackled to the ground and placed under arrest."

Authorities charged Fraser with receiving stolen property, eluding law enforcement and traffic offenses. He was treated for scrapes and cuts, according to the sheriff, who said there were no other injuries.